Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidastel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘Sidastel’ is disclosed, characterized by pink and white flowers with a dark pink margin and a compact inflorescence. The new variety is a  Hydrangea,  and naturally blooms from April through September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘Sidastel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The intent of this breeding program is to produce stronger pot plant varieties with attractive flower colors. The new variety was discovered as a seedling within the planned breeding program. This seedling is a result from the crossing of the female parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9825 with the male parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9732. The crossing was made by the inventor, Daniel van der Spek in the summer of 2000. ‘Sidastel’ was selected by Daniel van der Spek in May of 2002 in Nootdorp, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Sidastel’ by vegetative cuttings was performed in Nootdorp, The Netherlands and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sidastel’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sidastel’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sidastel’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Round mophead inflorescence;     -   2. Unique petal coloration of white and pink with dark pink         margins;     -   3. Dark green foliage;     -   4. Strong plant, resisting breaking in production and         post-harvest situations.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidastel’ are similar to plants of the female parent, ‘9825’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidastel’ have pink and white flowers with a dark pink margin, the female parent has solid white flowers. The new cultivar has more flowers per inflorescence, and a wider diameter inflorescencc. ‘Sidastel’ differs from the male parent ‘9732’ in foliage color. Foliage of the new cultivar is green and the male parent has green foliage with a strong purple tinge.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidastel’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety ‘Paris Rapa,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,906. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidastel’ differ from ‘Paris Rapa’ in the following characteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Sidastel’ is much more resistant to stress than         ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   2. ‘Sidastel’ has a wider inflorescence than ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   3. ‘Sidastel’ flowers are darker red.     -   4. ‘Sidastel’ plants are taller than ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   5. ‘Sidastel’ plants produce roots faster than ‘Paris Rapa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical blooming plant of ‘Sidastel’ grown in a greenhouse. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Sidastel’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Brielle, The Netherlands from October 2005 to October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. at night to 18° C. to 20° C. during the day. The pH of the growing medium was between 5.0 and 5.5. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar ‘Sidastel.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 19 to 21 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Flowering perennial shrub. -   Height: Approximately 45 cm. from soil level to the top of the     inflorescence. -   Blooming period: Naturally blooming April through September. -   Plant spread: Approximately 53 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate to Vigorous. -   Branching characteristics: Moderately free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 30.5 cm. -   Number of lateral branches: Approximately 10. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Pinching required: Yes.     -   -   Details of pinching.—The first pinch is given at 8 weeks             from the planting of a rooted cutting. A second pinch is             given 12 weeks from planting a rooted cutting. -   Lateral branch shape: Round. -   Lateral branch strength: Very strong. -   Lateral branch texture: Leathery. -   Lateral branch color: Approximately RHS Yellow-Green 144A, slightly     tinged at the nodes with RHS Greyed-Purple 183D. -   Other stem or plant characteristics: Stems covered with lenticels at     a density of approximately 4 lenticels per square cm.     -   -   Lenticel length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Lenticel width.—Approximately 0.075 cm.         -   Lenticel color.—About RHS Greyed-Purple 183D. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 8. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Compound or single.—Single         -   Average length.—Approximately 12.4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 7.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Oval to elliptic oblong.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate, approximately 3 teeth per cm.         -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, non-pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 7.9 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green             146B. Young foliage under side. Near R.H.S. Green 143A.             Mature foliage upper side. Near R.H.S. Green 139A. Mature             foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Green 138B.         -   Venation.—Type. Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Durability of folige to stresses.—High. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B, base slightly tinged             Greyed-purple 183D.

FLOWER

-   Bloom Period:     -   -   Natural season.—Continuous April through September. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal inflorescence.         -   Type.—Compound corymb.         -   Height.—Approximately 8.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 15.5 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers,             approximately 55. Sterile Flowers, approximately 130. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape (sterile flowers).—Obovate.         -   Bud length (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Bud diameter (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Bud color (sterile flowers).—Near R.H.S. Greyed-Purple 186D             with a darker top, 186C. Base/calyx: Near R.H.S.             Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Bud shape (fertile flowers).—Globose.         -   Bud length (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Bud diameter (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Bud color (fertile flowers).—Near RHS Green-White 157B and             bud tip flushed with Red-Purple 58A. Fertile flowers do not             open. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Rotate.         -   Facing direction.—All directions, with the majority facing             outward.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—185.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 1850         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Fertile; Approximately 1.2. cm.             Sterile: Approximately 3.9 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Fertile; Approximately 0.7 cm. Sterile:             Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 5 days from the bud stage. Fertile flowers do             not open. Whole Plant: Approximately 50% of flowers open at             once.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Fertile flowers: Approximately 5             days. Sterile flowers: Approximately 35 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Fragrance.—No. -   Petals:     -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 4.6 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal number.—Approximately 5.         -   Petals fused.—No.         -   Petal appearance.—Dull.         -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Smooth. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 58D, base             slightly lighter, to White 155C. Top edge Red-Purple 58A.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 58D, base             slightly lighter, to White 155C. Top edge near Red-Purple             58A.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58B.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 57D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 58D, Top edge             Red-Purple 58B.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58B. -   Petaloids: No. -   Fragrance: None.

CALYX

-   Present: Yes. -   Shape: Rotate, lower ¾ fused. -   Length: Approximately 0.35 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.4 cm.

SEPAL

-   Sepals: Only sterile flowers have sepals. Fertile flowers do not     open. -   Number: Average 5. -   Sepal texture (both surfaces): Smooth. -   Sepal Arrangement: Rotate. -   Sepal length: Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Sepal width: Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Sepal shape: Deltoid. -   Base: Fused. -   Apex shape: Acute. -   Margin: Entire. -   Color: Upper side near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C. Under side near     R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144C, base Yellow-Green 144D.

PEDUNCLE

-   Length: Approximately 5.2 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.35 cm. -   Angle: Approximately 20 degrees (0 degrees=straight upright). -   Strength: Strong. -   Color: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 144B.

PEDICEL

-   Present: Yes. -   Length (sterile flowers): Approximately 1.2 cm. -   Diameter (sterile flowers): Approximately 0.12 cm. -   Angle (sterile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees. -   Strength (sterile flowers): Strong. -   Color (sterile flowers): Near White 155A, base Greyed-Purple 187D. -   Length (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.6 cm. -   Diameter (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Angle (fertile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees. -   Strength (fertile flowers): Moderate. -   Color (fertile flowers): Near Green White 157B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—3.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Lobed.         -   Stigma color.—Near Red-Purple 57D.         -   Style color.—Near Red-Purple 62D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.15 cm.         -   Ovary color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Stamens.—Average 10.         -   Anther shape.—Broad kidney-shaped.         -   Anther size.—0.15 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near White 155A, filament colored Red-Purple             62D.         -   Pollen color.—Near White 155A.         -   Pollen quantity.—Very low.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant     of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has     not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at     least up to 40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,     however, observed hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been     observed. -   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidastel’ as herein illustrated and described. 